Vote Re-Opens Negotiations for Oshkosh Corp. Employees

An estimated 2000 workers made their way into the Oshkosh Convention Center this afternoon, casting their votes on whether to re-open contract negotiations with the Oshkosh Corp.

Union leaders lobbied for members to vote yes.

"We're always ready to sit back, and listen, and talk," said UAW-578 President Joe Preisler. "Obviously, our membership has to give us the authorization on a yes or no to do so."

Just over an hour after the voting finished, union leaders received what they had hoped for.

"If you talk and have that open line of communication, you should be able to find a reasonable understanding and common ground," said UAW-578 Vice President Andy Schaller. "If you don't communicate, you're putting yourself out."

But not everyone was happy with the result. Hundreds of workers left the convention center in obvious frustration after voting to not re-open contract negotiations.

"My question would be this: If times got better and more prosperous and things all of a sudden got great, would they turn around and open it to give us a raise? Would they open it to give us better benefits? No, they're opening it to their advantage, and that's what it boils down to, and usually the worker gets screwed," said Employee Don Forester.

Even workers who voted yes were left unsure of what to expect from the forthcoming negotiations.

"The bargaining committee told me they have no idea whatsoever what the company's going to propose," said Employee Kevin Klebs. "In fact, they don't have really any idea if there's any surprises coming or not. So we have no idea."

A formal date to re-open contract negotiations has not been released.

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